Unit 10 - Preparing for Progression

• Performing Arts
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

UNIT 10 

Preparing For Progression

AUDITIONING 

• Be prepared.
• Memorize your lines
• Be kind to everyone and smile.
• Your audition begins the moment you walk in the door. You may be perfect in the audition room, but rudeness or misbehavior in the lobby will be noticed! 
• Be on time!
• Arrive 15 minutes earlier -  paperwork, relax and focus  
• Network but also rehearse your lines
• Dress appropriately.

https://www.stagestheatre.org/audition-tips-and-faq/

Tips for Auditioning

Be prepared.

If you are asked to present a song or monologue, prepare your piece well. Memorize your selection and practice it many times.

Be kind to everyone and smile.

Remember that your audition for every show begins the moment you walk in the door. You may be perfect in the audition room, but rudeness or misbehavior in the lobby will be noticed.

Be on time for your appointment.

We ask that you arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment so that all of your paperwork can be completed before you go in for your auditions. Arriving early also gives you time to relax and focus and not feel rushed.

Use your waiting time wisely.

It is great to see old friends and make new ones at an audition, but be sure to take some time to focus on your audition.

Dress appropriately.

At Stages theatre Company, we always ask that actors come dressed for movement. This means you should dress in clothes that are comfortable and will not impede your movement, but still be neat, clean and nice looking. (Please, no flip-flops, boots, high heels, wheeled shoes, etc. Sturdy shoes that stay on your feet are a must. Dance shoes are appropriate).

Introduce yourself.

When you walk into the audition room, tell us your name and the name of the piece you have prepared. This makes a good first impression.

Don’t watch the directors.

While doing your audition, do not look directly at the people you are auditioning for, unless specifically directed to do so.

Mistakes happen.

If you make a mistake, do not apologize. Remember that others may not even notice a mistake, but if you point it out to them, they will know for sure.

It’s OK to be nervous.

Don’t worry about being nervous. Just about everyone is nervous. Do your best to smile and have a good time.

At Stages theatre Company, we always ask that actors come dressed for movement. This means you should dress in clothes that are comfortable and will not impede your movement, but still be neat, clean and nice looking. (Please, no flip-flops, boots, high heels, wheeled shoes, etc. Sturdy shoes that stay on your feet are a must. Dance shoes are appropriate)

Introduce yourself. When you walk into the audition room, tell us your name and the name of the piece you have prepared. This makes a good first impression

Don’t watch the directors. While doing your audition, do not look directly at the people you are auditioning for, unless specifically directed to do so.

Mistakes happen .If you make a mistake, do not apologize. Remember that others may not even notice a mistake, but if you point it out to them, they will know for sure.

It’s OK to be nervous. Don’t worry about being nervous. 

Do your best to smile and have a good time.

1. Tell me about yourself (name, age and where you are based). Share a funny story from your life.
   
2. What monologues are you performing? 
3. Why did you choose these monologues?
4. Who is your character?
5. What’s the story about? OR Describe your Monologue in Brief.
6. What is the character’s conflict? 
7.  What does the character want?
8. Who’s is the character taking to?
   
9. What is the relationship of your character with the person they are talking to?

QUESTIONS THE PANEL WILL AUDITIONEES

1. What Prompted you to become an Actor?
2. Which Actor/s do you Admire the Most and Why?
3. What are your Strengths and Weaknesses when it Comes to Acting?
4. Do you prefer screen or stage acting?
5. What is your ideal role? 
6. What have you seen recently that you’ve enjoyed? 
7. What work are you drawn to generally? 
8. What kind of work are you drawn to as an actor?

QUESTIONS THE PANEL WILL AUDITIONEES

1. How do you like to work? What techniques do you employ?
   
2. What are your career goals?
   
3. What kind of rehearsal process do you have experience with?
4. What are your thoughts on the script?
5. What are your thoughts on the character you are playing?
   
6. What training have you completed?23) How do you handle rejection?
   

QUESTIONS THE PANEL WILL AUDITIONEES

Week 1 - Lesson 2

1. Class Objective: understand "casting type" + career pathways
2. Skills: teamwork, professionalism, listening, problem solving, analysis
3. Activities: 

• check blog unit 9
• about yesterday recap
• Career pathway 
• Drama schools x universities
• Casting type sheet

Which career pathway do you want to pursue in performing arts? 

DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE?

https://actinginlondon.co.uk/drama-school-vs-university-for-acting/

Is an acting degree from a reputable drama school the same as the one from a university?

In the UK, accredited drama schools and universities both provide formal/academic education in the form of Bachelors of Arts degree. However, some drama schools may not provide any recognized degrees.

• Independent institution - means they may have their own buildings and operate on almost their own terms.
• Can be a part of a university.
• ALL drama schools must have their higher education validated by universities. 
• In an academic and higher education setting, drama schools are below universities. But when it comes to the actual value of a theater degree, it's the opposite.
• Drama schools have both graduate and undergraduate programs. 

DRAMA SCHOOLS

List Of Drama Schools

• https://actinginlondon.co.uk/best-drama-schools-in-uk/
• https://actinginlondon.co.uk/top-drama-schools-london/
• https://actinginlondon.co.uk/best-drama-schools-in-new-york/
• https://actinginlondon.co.uk/best-acting-schools-in-the-world/ 

• University (HE) provides students with all types of degrees that aren’t limited to theatre or arts.
• In the UK Performing Arts degrees are usually simply named BA Acting.
• Academic training (theory, playwrights, etc.)

UNIVERSITIES

How to choose the best monologues for you?

• One that showcases your best skills
• Age appropriate
• Matches your casting type
• One that you know a lot about 
• One that you like and can relate to

ACTIVITY

Fill in the casting form for yourself and for your actor friend and we will then discuss.

1. Demi for Avneet
2. Sky for Ethan
3. Avneet for Soren
4. Soren for Demi 
5. Ethan for Sky

Week 1 - Lesson 3

1. Class Objective: revise casting type + investigate monologues
2. Skills: professionalism, listening, analysis, cold reading
3. Activities: 

• yesterday recap
• Career pathway - made a decision?
• Casting type sheet
• Homework (blended learning)
• Blog session 

Homework

• Select 3 monologues that are suitable for your casting type (1 contemporary, 1 screen and 1 classical) - bring the to the next class
• Select 3 monologues that are suitable for your Partner (1 contemporary, 1 screen and 1 classical) - bring the to the next class

Week 2 - Day 1 

WEDNESDAY 

13:20 to 14:20 - Casting Platforms and Scratch Nights 

14:30 to 16:20 -  Your chosen monologues Analysis and Preparation 

CASTING PLATFORMS 

MANDY 

BACKSTAGE

Scratch Nights

Scratch Nights act as a sharing platform for artists to 'test' a current work on a live audience. 

Typically, artists will have an allocated time in which to present their work, which is followed up by a feedback session with the audience.

Week 3 - Day 1 WEDNESDAY

13:20 to 16:20 

• In person audition process. 
• Analysis and practice

WHAT QUESTIONS ARE ASKED TO ACTORS DURING AN IN PERSON AUDITION?

Week 3 - Day 2 THURSDAY

11:20 to 12:20 

• Acting CV 
• Self tape theory class

SELF-TAPE 

• poor quality, too large file size and frustatingly, multiple scenes are provided as separate files. 
• phones and Tablets 
•  We need to see your face. 
• lighting equipment.
•  principal light on you, also known as a key light, a fill light, and a back (hair) light to sculpt and separate you from your background 
•  It should look something like the sample picture below.
  
•  LANDSCAPE and not portrait,  
•  background
• limit unnecessary background. 
•  pick up your voice without unnecessary noise, like traffic and neighbours.
  
• reader at eye level and near to your camera. 
  
•  slate or ident, 
  
•  edit them all together into a single file.  
• submit: vimeo , dropbox, wetranfer,  
• lable

https://casting.mathewwaters.com/self-taping-advice/

Slate for self tape

It varies according to the type of casting medium (tv, film, commercial, theatre) 
ALWAYS follow the casting's guidance

What Should Your Slate Usually Include?

• Your name: State your full name clearly and slowly.
  
• Height: State your height in feet and inches.
  
• Location: where you live
• Agency: If you are represented by an agent, state their name and agency.
  
• Role: state the name of the role.

Week 3 - Day 3 Friday

9am to 11am -  Independent rehearsal of monologues including self tapes

11:20 to 13:20 and 14:20 to 15:20 -  -  blog completion of the following assignmens:

- Finish your personal statement based on Mandy’s workshop

- Create your Actors CV

 

WEEK 4 - Day 1  Wednesday 

Decide: Measure for Measure - rehearse 1st week record Wednesday the second week

Important dates: 

- Workshop with BSA: 29/11/2024 FRIDAY

- St Mary’s Audition – 30/11 SATURDAY

- Self-tape - 13/12/2024 

- In person audition - 18/12/2024

  

WEEK 4 - Day 1  Wednesday 

Activities:

1:20 to 2:30 - Rehearse monologues by yourselves (should be                                                              off book)

2:30 to 3:10 - Intimacy on stage (Rehearsal room second floor)

                         - What do you know now that you din't know in                                                                   September?

3:10 to 4:20 - Rehearse monologues (classical, contemporary,                                                              screen)

Intimacy in stage productions

Consent

Consent is the right of all parties involved, and should be obtained at every stage of the process. You can retract your consent at any time.

Intimacy can include any physical contact onstage, or implied physical contact, such as coming within inches of another person

Communication

You can be part of the conversation with the creative team and fellow performers. You can speak openly and professionally about the content, using proper names for body parts and activities.

Contract

You should know your contract and discuss any intimacy or nudity requirements with your agent.

Saying no

You can say no to a job if the intimacy or nudity required doesn't sit well with you.

Boundaries

You can advocate for your physical boundaries and "no contact areas". You can also offer an alternative movement that feels right for you.

Intimacy director

You can ask for an intimacy director to be present to help create safe choreography and advocate for your safety. They can help you separate your character's intimacy from your relationship with your colleague.

Safe space

You can work in a safe space where everyone feels comfortable.

Personal vs professional

You don't have to share intimate personal experiences.

WEEK 4 - Day 2 Thursday 

Activities: 

11:20 to 12:20 - Rehearse monologues (contemporary, screen) - Rehearsal Room (Second floor)

WEEK 4 - Day 3 Friday 

Activities:

9am to 11am - Blog (upload blog -  Independent Work) 

Scratch Night, Bibliography, Acting CV, Personal Statement

Drama School x Uni, Casting platforms, UCAS workshop,  Employment,  - DONE BY 11am

11:20 to 1:00 (Blog room)  - Cover letter and job application 

2:00 to 4:00 - BSA Workshop (theatre)

Front of House Usher

Location: The Royal Court Theatre, London

Contract: Part-time, Permanent

Salary: Usher – £46.53 per shift (3.5 hours) 

https://royalcourttheatre.com/usher-job-posting/ 

JOB APPLICATION 

Week 5 - Day 1 Wednesday

1:20 to 2:20 - Independ work (Blog and Rehearsal) 

14:30 to 15:20 THEATRE -  How was St Marys Audition? + Intimacy on Stage 

15:20 to 16:40  THEATRE

Rehearse Modern and Screen Monologues 

Read Media collab scripts 

Week 5 - Day 2 Thursday 

11:20 to 12:20 - THEATRE

• Armature theatre companies
• Headshot research
• Employment options
• Headshot
• Cover letter casting application

- ALL TO  BE UPLOADED TO YOUR BLOG - 

Week 5 - Day 3 Friday 

9am - 10am - Independent  blog work and monologue/scenes rehearsal (to be memorized)

11:20am to 1:20pm THEATRE - Headshot lesson and casting submission 

2:20pm to 3:30pm M038 - Blog session 

• Reflects what you look like.
  
• Appearance as neutral as possible.
• Avoid props, hats, distracting backgrounds and accessories.
• Eyes - they tell your story 
  
• No photoshop 
  
• Stand out and show your personality.
• Knowing what type of roles you would like to be cast 
  
• Colour photographs.
• Head and shoulder portrait. 
• Make-up styling - ‘you on a good day’ and not ‘you on a night out’ 
• Stick to neutral colours that complement you. Avoid wearing any distracting patterns or logos.
• Glasses and Beard

HEADSHOT TIPS 

BAD HEADSHOTS

GOOD HEADSHOTS

 CASTING CALL 

'Inherited' - Casting "Inherited," a short film.

Seeking talent from London, England, United Kingdom

Roles paying up to £100.00

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Logline:  The CEO of a Company discovers their intern is hiding something shady going on in their organisation which leads to getting caught up in a struggle that will change their life forever.

ROLE

Alex (male or female)

Lead.,  17-20

A young intern in a tech company and head of a mysterious organisation will go to any lengths to achieve their goals.

Week 6 - Schedule 

Wedneday 

• 2:30 pm: record self-tapes - TV STUDIO *you edit it

Thursday 

• Amateur theatre companies 

Friday 

• Rehearse monologues + interview 
• Blog 

Week 6 - Schedule 

• The Tower Theatre - https://www.towertheatre.org.uk/
• Putney Arts Theatre - https://www.putneyartstheatre.org.uk/putney-theatre-company
• Sedos - https://www.sedos.co.uk/
• KDC - https://www.kdctheatre.com/
• Dulwich Players - https://www.dulwichplayers.org/
• MTC - https://www.mayhemtheatre.co.uk/

Week 7 - Wednesday

Mock Audition day 

from 2:30pm in the top floor rehearsal studio - with panel